It Started With a Thank You
Author's Notes: I'm completely new to this so any feedback that you may have will be greatly appreciated. Please don't hesitate to leave any suggestions or critiques. Thank you and enjoy!
Harima woke up staring up at the dark ceiling of what used to be Tenma's room. "She's been gone for six months and still she comes to mind." He thought to himself rolling to his side. He sighed and slowly got out of bed. He approached the door glancing at himself in the mirror and frowned, grabbing his sunglasses exited trying to forget his reflection. He made his way outside and sat on the porch.
He had just been kicked out of Itoko's apartment for not being able to pay his portion of the rent. He lost all drive to continue his manga and the little funds he had were running low when Yakumo and Sarah found him sleeping under a tree at a shrine. He had already stayed for a week and had no desire to stay.
"Why? Why did I end up here of all places?" He silently thought to himself. The cold February winds swiftly blew breaking the silence.
"Why did it have to be here?" he said lonely.
"Tenma?" a voice came from behind. Harima looked back to see Yakumo standing by the slightly opened door. Harima hesitated "Yeah." Another harsh wind blew by.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." He quickly responded hoping that she would take the hint that he didn't want to talk about it.
Yakumo had noticed that Harima's feelings were far from gone. "You didn't, I've been having trouble sleeping lately." She said sitting right beside him. They looked up at the cloudy night sky. Neither of them said a word as several moments passed. "I wish there was something I could do for him," she thought.
Then Harima broke the silence, "Are you sure Sarah doesn't mind me staying here. I honestly don't want to make her uncomfortable."
"She doesn't mind at all, she thinks it'll be good for me knowing that there's more people around."
He looked down and a slight frown appeared from the corner of his mouth. "I'm sorry," He said, his voice low and sincere, "because of me she's gone." He placed his head on his to try to hide his pain. Yakumo looked at him feeling the genuine guilt that hung on him. She scooted closer to him.
"There's nothing to apologize for, in the end it was Tenma's choice to go, and I'm honestly thankful that you gave her that chance to be happy. " She said reassuringly. Harima's guilt didn't waiver. His eyes began to burn; he shut them tightly and turned his head away from Yakumo. Her red eyes watched the shell of Harima crumble away in the cold wind lazily breezing by. Her heart sank at the sight and her eyes began to water seeing tears run down his cheek.
"I can't stand to see him like this. What do I do?" she moves closer to him and places her hand on his. He turns to her, his tears still running down his face. Harima raises his head and Yakumo reaches towards his face and removes his sunglasses. They briefly make eye contact but he quickly breaks away looking down. Her heart breaks seeing him so distraught. Harima then looks into her eyes. His bloodshot eyes widen looking at her tears. She then hugs him. Harima resists at first but quickly quits. He wraps his arms around her and rests his head on her shoulder. Yakumo feels his tears form then fall and the coolness of the mixture with the wind.
"Yakumo…" He says slowly lifting his head and pulling away from her.
"Yeah," she replied releasing him and wiping her eyes. Harima stood up and extended his hand to help her up. "Do you mind if I stay a while longer?"
"Not at all." Yakumo said grabbing his hand to get up.
"Thank you." He said cracking a slight but noticeable smile.